Netting the benefits

The internet is a useful tool and repository of information for our parenting needs if used wisely
theSun, Tue, 08 Feb 2011

With the arrival of the internet, everything is now at our fingertips. We can read newspapers, books, watch television programmes or movies, or listen to the radio through it.

There is also lot of information we can get by just doing a simple search online when we need ideas, tips and advice on anything and everything. This is especially helpful as we go on our parenting journey.

There are forums and social networking groups we can join too to share our parenting experiences, discuss opinions or get advice from fellow parents and experts.

We must, of course, be very careful when choosing the sites we get our information from, and when we sign up as a member of a networking site or forum.

While there are many websites out there that are genuine in their intentions to help parents, there are also those that are out there with bad intentions.

Many a time, when I run out of ideas on how to occupy my child without using the television as babysitter, I turn to the internet.

Many cartoons, movies or characters on television have websites which include interactive activities or games featuring them. These are good alternatives to one-way, passive viewing of the animated version on television.

Parenting websites and those focused on child education have sections with learning games and activities for reading, math, art and craft, or science projects.

There are also longer-term projects through the Net you could get your child involved in. For instance, older schoolgoing children can be encouraged to write poems, songs, stories or blog.

There are websites that provide guides and attractive resources such as suggested storylines and colourful pictures for your child to develop his writing skills.

For a fee, some also offer a publishing service where your child’s writings can be made into a book as a keepsake or gift to loved ones.

Just as how we take precautions when we go online ourselves, be mindful also of your child’s safety and privacy when you allow him to use the internet.

If he wishes to blog, help him to set it up with all the necessary privacy settings to prevent strangers from contacting or finding out about him and his activities.

When your child is online, remember to supervise his activities to ensure he does not intentionally or unintentionally visit sites that are unsuitable for children.

Never leave a child to use the internet alone. Install blockers or monitoring software on your computer to prevent them from entering sites not meant for children.

If you feel uncomfortable allowing your child to use the internet for educational and fun activities or to write, keep a blog, or show any long-term presence online, you could still use the ideas, information and resources from it and adapt them to suit your needs.

Many of the activities are printable as well so this allows you to convert the online version for use in the traditional pencil and paper way.

With the internet, parents are certainly not lacking when it comes to parenting information, albeit an overload at times, but we still need to exercise our wisdom and discretion when applying the knowledge for ourselves and our children.